Do NOT use Ventolin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Ventolin
• you are using another short-acting sympathomimetic bronchodilator (eg, metaproterenol)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Ventolin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of heart problems, (eg, fast or irregular heartbeat, low blood output), blood vessel problems, high blood pressure, or low blood potassium levels
• if you have a history of seizures, diabetes, an overactive thyroid, kidney problems, or an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma)
• if you have ever had an unusual reaction to another sympathomimetic medicine (eg, pseudoephedrine)
• if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) or tricyclic antidepressant (eg, amitriptyline), or if you have taken either of these medicines within the last 14 days.

Some medicines may interact with Ventolin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because the risk of low blood potassium levels may be increased
• Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (eg, entacapone), MAOIs (eg, phenelzine), short-acting sympathomimetic bronchodilators (eg, metaproterenol), stimulants (eg, amphetamine), sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because they may increase the risk of Ventolin's side effects
• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because they may decrease Ventolin's effectiveness
• Digoxin because its effectiveness may be decreased by Ventolin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ventolin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Ventolin may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Ventolin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possible unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Ventolin may sometimes cause severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. When this problem occurs, it is often after the first use of a new canister or vial. If this happens, seek medical care at once.
• If your usual dose does not work well, your symptoms become worse, or you need to use it more often than normal, contact your doctor at once. This may be a sign of seriously worsening asthma. Your doctor may need to change your dose or medicine.
• Ventolin should work for up to 6 hours. Do NOT use more than the recommended dose or use more often than prescribed without checking with your doctor. The risk of severe heart problems and sometimes death may be increased with overuse of Ventolin.
• Some patients may have trouble using Ventolin correctly. Some may also get mouth sores or a bad taste in the mouth after using it. If you have any of these problems, ask your health care provider if a spacing device may help.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Ventolin before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about all of your asthma medicines and how to use them. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any asthma medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
• Keep track of how many inhalations you use. When your medicine supply begins to run low, call your doctor or pharmacy as soon as possible for a refill.
• Do NOT place the canister in water to try to determine how much medicine you have left.
• The contents of this canister are under pressure. Do NOT puncture, break, or burn container, even if it appears empty.
• Diabetes patients - Ventolin may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Use Ventolin with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Caution is advised when using Ventolin in children; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ventolin while you are pregnant. It is not known if Ventolin is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Ventolin, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

Cough; headache; nausea; nervousness; sinus inflammation; sore or dry throat; tremor; trouble sleeping; unusual taste in mouth; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; new or worsened trouble breathing; pounding in the chest; severe headache or dizziness; unusual hoarseness; wheezing.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.